The perennially troubled airline announced last week that it has commissioned prominent Italian designer Alberta Ferretti to help it craft new employee uniforms. Alitalia says it’s making the change after cabin and ground crews expressed a desire for uniforms with "greater comfort."

Despite Ferretti's help, Alitalia said via a statement that the “design and creation of the new Alitalia uniform does not involve any financial disbursement by Alitalia.”

“The fashion house (of Alberta Ferretti) will take care of the design and creation process for the new uniform collection,” Alitalia said, without additional details.

Either way, the new uniforms – which could be ready by summer – come less than two years after Alitalia’s last fashion update.

It was just in 2016 that Alitalia rolled out a retro-inspired look that came amid a splashy "reboot" with then-partner Etihad. The Abu Dhbabi-based airline took effective control of Alitalia back in 2014, sinking about $750 million into the struggling carrier to help keep it afloat. Etihad pledged then that it could link Alitalia into its global network and push through the needed restructuring to make the Italian carrier a profitable venture.

"If we didn't believe Alitalia could restructure and win we wouldn't be here," since-departed Etihad CEO James Hogan said at the time. "The sexiest airline in Europe should be Alitalia."

Ultimately, Etihad pulled its support from Alitalia, saying earlier this year it was done pumping money into the company that apparently proved more difficult to restructure than Etihad expected.

For Alitalia, that sank it into a new financial crisis that led to another bankruptcy. It also required a bridge loan of about $650 million (and growing) from the Italian government to keep the carrier flying while a new buyer is found. That effort continues, with some reported interest from European rivals. It remains unclear whether Alitalia would be bought as a stand-alone unit or be broken up, though the latter is assumed to be the most-likely outcome.

As for the latest uniforms, Alitalia pledged the effort from Ferretti would “renew the look of the Italian airline with a special collection which perfectly combines elegance and convenience.”

“Alitalia is a well-recognized and institutional symbol for our country,” Ferretti added in the airline’s statement. “This is why I have welcomed the opportunity to create a special collection which symbolizes Italy and brings the best of Italian creativity, elegance and style in the world.”

A heavy-duty .50-calibur machine gun, no longer active, keeps watch over North Seattle during a flight aboard a 71-year-old restored B-24 World War II-era bomber on June 26, 2015.
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Col. Ken Wheeler, a 92-year-old World War II veteran and B-17 bomber navigator, pauses to study a .50-calibur heavy machine gun while on a World War II-era B-24 bomber flight over Seattle on June 26, 2015.
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The soon-to-be home of Southwest Airlines in Houston Hobby is seen under construction on June 19, 2015. The ticketing concourse is part of the new international terminal, set to open later this year.
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An escalator stands ready to shuttle Houston Hobby's soon-to-come international passengers to customs inside the airport's international terminal, still under construction, on June 19, 2015.
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The new home of Southwest Airlines in Houston Hobby is seen under construction on June 19, 2015. The ticketing concourse is part of the new international terminal, set to open later this year.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAY

The soon-to-be home of Southwest Airlines in Houston Hobby is seen under construction on June 19, 2015. The ticketing concourse is part of the new international terminal, set to open later this year.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAY

About to end a 16+ hour journey, an Emirates Airbus A380 superjumbo sails over a Boeing 747-8 as it lands at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport on June 19, 2015.
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The distinct blue, white and gold globe of United Airlines repeats itself on a series of Boeing 737s at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport on June 19, 2015.
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Banks of computers and test equipment line the interior of Boeing's ecoDemonstrator 757, seen during a media tour in early June 2015. The airplane tests a variety of new technologies on board, including non-stick wing surfaces to reduce bug residue.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USATod